Abstract:
An electrochemical cell for measuring the activity of one or more ionic species such as pNa, pK, pCa, pNH₄, pCl etc. consisting of two sensors selective to the actual ionic species, one of which is used as the reference electrode and the other as the measurement electrode. The two sensors are chosen preferably identical. The electrode used as the reference electrode is brought into contact with a solution of known ionic activity and an ionic strength which is greater, equal to or substantially greater than that of the unknown solution to be measured. The measurment electrode is brought into contact with the unknown solution to be measured, while a third electrode is used purely for instrumental reasons and does not participate in the measurement.
Abstract:
A heating and temperature-control device for biological sample containers comprises an assembly of lamps emitting infrared radiation within a wavelength of 1-5.5 micrometers and heating said containers by irradiation, and a sensor for infrared radiation of wavelength 7-14 micrometers which picks up the emission from the containers which derives from their heating. The signal obtained from said sensor is used to control the lamp emission in such a manner as to obtain the required container temperature and then keep it constant.
Abstract:
Description of a method for the potentiometric determination of the total calcium (II) content in biological fluids (serum, plasma and urine) based on dilution of the sample. The results obtained, when compared to the usual methods in current use, show the validity of the proposed method; furthermore, the pH of the buffer solution used for diluting the sample guarantees optimum operating conditions as well as long working life of the potentiometric sensing elements and maximum reliability when compared to other methods employing acidification of the sample.
Abstract:
A fluid circulating and intercepting device (10) comprises a first (12) and a second block (11) facing each other with the interposition of an impermeable elastic and flexible diaphragm (13). The first block (12) is provided with at least one concavity (16) with its mouth close to the diaphragm (13) and into which opens out in a substantially axial direction a control fluid feed duct (17). The second block (11) is provided with ducts (14, 15) for circulation of the intercepted fluid which open out on the face in contact with the diaphragm (13), in correspondence with the concavity (16) in the first block (12).
Abstract:
A system is disclosed for measuring the partial pressure of a gas, and in particular of carbon dioxide (p CO ). The system uses an electrolytic solution of weak ionic strenght which is circulated between an ion-selective electrode and a membrane permeable to gases but not to the ions and substantially distant from the electrode. The partial pressure of the gas is measured after a fraction of the electrolytic solution has been permeated by the gas present in the sample and subsequently has been transferred on the sensible portion of the electrode.
Abstract:
In a single-use device for collecting and holding blood samples, provision is made for an evacuated tube (10) with a closure (stopper) (11) that can be pierced by the tip of a needle (13), the other tip (14) of which is intended to be inserted into a vein of a patient. Disposed below the said pierceable stopper (11), and in the tube (10), is a diaphragm (16) intended to be passed through by the needle-tip (13) that pierces the stopper (11), so as to form a supplementar barrier between the interior of the tube (10) and the environment when the pierceable stopper (11) is removed.
Abstract:
Analytical photometer for the practically simultaneous determination of the presence of different substances in a certain number of discrete samples. The photometer (10) is equipped with a centrifugal type rotor (16), already known in the art, containing a large number of chambers with inlet holes (20, 22) for the sample/samples and reagents and with axially aligned transparent windows, thereby forming a system of rotating cuvettes (18). The rotor compartments (16) serve as receptacles for the solutions and are designed and dimensioned as already known in the art, such as to retain the liquid when said rotor (16) is at rest and to transfer said liquid into the cuvettes (18) when the rotor (16) rotates. A single or multiple light source (L) is provided, which is transmitted in a novel manner through a system of suitable means, in particular, optical fibres (30-35) to various photodetector units (60 to 65), suitably aligned with the transparent windows of the cuvettes (18) by means of the same number of interference filters (50to 55) and appropriate holes (40 to 45) situated in the base (15) of the rotor (16). Thus it is possible to determine for the first time, concentrations of chemical solutions through the absorbance in the sample/samples plus reagent/reagents contained in the cuvettes (18) at various wave lengths, with wave energy being delivered from source (L). Hence it is possible to examine more than one cuvette (18) almost simultaneously and singly, each one for a different analytical parameter, and consequently to examine the transmittance and/or absorbance of the samples contained in the cuvettes at optimum wave length.
Abstract:
A pre-determined amount of solubilized reagent is reacted to release CO₂ in a controlled-temperature reaction vessel and a controlled-pressure area adjacent the reaction vessel. The devices that enable the system to be maintained in the liquid phase, and the reaction vessel itself, are controlled, assuming that the O₂ in the solution is such as that deriving from the presence of O₂ in the atmosphere, if necessary corrected for the effect of the reaction producing CO₂. Thus, the amount of reagent taking part in the reaction being known, either by assay or by controlling the reaction time, by controlling the amount of O₂ in the solution containing the reagent, the barometric pressure, the temperature in the reaction vessel, and the coefficients of solubility of the two gases, it becomes possible to predict the partial pressures of O₂ and CO₂ in the liquid phase produced, which liquid phase is suitable for use as a calibration substance for an apparatus for measuring blood gases.
Abstract:
Electrodes for the measurement of pCO2 and/or pO2 are calibrated with an exposed aliquot of a calibration liquid. A constituent such as a ferrioxalate salt in the calibration liquid is converted to the gas in a reproducible concentration by exposure of the aliquot to light. In some instances, the calibration liquid is equilibrated with air prior to exposure. Some mechanisms of light generation of carbon dioxide also consume oxygen, so as to depress the pO2 value by a reproducible amount. The use of two different calibration liquids enables both one-point and two-point calibration of the Clark oxygen electrode and the Severinghaus pCO2 electrode of a blood gas instrument. Aqueous acidic ferrioxalate compositions are disclosed for use as calibrants of pCO2 and of pO2 after photodecomposition. Compositions with high iron(III) to oxalate molar ratios (e.g., 5:1 to 100:1 with 0.3 to 15 millimolar oxalate) produce carbon dioxide on exposure without oxygen consumption. Compositions with low iron(III) to oxalate ratios (e.g., 1:1000 to 1:2000) with 0.1 to 5 millimolar iron(III) produce carbon dioxide on exposure with concurrent oxygen consumption. Use of the two types of compositions enables calibration values to be established with varying pCO2 values and with, respectively, high and low pO2 values.